Mrs Walker and the Poisonous Punch

by Katie Ginger

About the Author: Katie is a mystery and romance writer living in the south east of England.

Excerpt

Mr. Miller had placed the invitation on the mantelpiece, lest Mrs Walker forget. She didn’t like parties and Christmas parties were something to be endured, rather than enjoyed.

Colonel Shipton’s Christmas bash had been cleverly avoided the last two years, thanks to a suspected broken ankle (the doctor had assured Mrs Walker it was fine, but she knew better) and a sudden bout of rather convenient food poisoning. This year however, thanks to Mr Miller’s meddling, there was no escaping.

The heavy snow that had been her last hope had, unfortunately, abated and Mrs Walker peered out of the window toward the big house at the top of the hill. The carriage clock on the mantelpiece chimed seven and Mrs Walker pushed herself out of her chair to go and get ready. Upstairs, she flung open the wardrobe doors and amongst her normal uniform of comfortable sweaters and heavy trousers, found clothes from her time as headmistress of St Madeleine’s School for Girls.

Whilst there, she had been required to dress smartly for the big assemblies at the start and end of the school year, and wear elegant evening dress for various Christmas plays and summer concerts. She cast her eye over the little used rail, settling on a beautiful long black dress that hung at the end. Mrs Walker inspected it. The sequins on the neckline were still intact and the soft fabric, with its slight sparkle, would show off her blue eyes.

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